IN A WEEK when all the Premier Section sides faced lower-league opposition, performance of the night belongs to the Green Dragon, of the East Division, who overturned loftier opponents, the Six Bells (Headington), in a pulsating contest, 75-71.

In doing so, the Haddenham outfit also maintained the only 100 per cent unbeaten record among the league’s 26 teams.

Their title aspirations were further enhanced with defeats for all their rivals, with the exception of the Eight Bells (Long Crendon), who comprehensively accounted (71-44) for the team from the Highwayman (Kidlington) still searching for a win.

With a draw blemishing what would otherwise be a perfect start to their campaign, the Rock of Gibraltar (Enslow Bridge) put daylight between themselves and their fellow North Division contenders with a 68-55 win at the Black’s Head (Bletchingdon). Closest challengers, the Blue Boar (Chipping Norton), stayed second despite a nail-biting defeat (64-61) to the Crown (Church Enstone).

Meanwhile, at the foot of the table, the Chequers (Chipping Norton), moved off the bottom after overcoming the Sun Inn (Hook Norton) 57-48, recording their first season success.

The Black Swan (Oxford) continued their rejuvenation with a victory over the Royal Sun (Begbroke), 71-65.

The Crown Street line-up was strengthened by Paul Sinha, from the ITV quiz show The Chase; his contributions helping maintain their slender lead in the Oxford Division. Hot on their heels are the Green Road Club (Kidlington), who saw off a valiant effort from the Gatehanger’s Inn (Ashendon), 75-65, and the Seacourt Bridge (Botley), who notched up an impressive win (69-61) at the King’s Arms (Wheatley).

One-time front-runners, the North Oxford Con Club, had their run of defeats extended, going down 77-65 to the Hatchet (Childrey), while the Gardener’s Arms (North Parade) got off the bottom after beating the Chandos Arms (Oakley) 67-53.

Peculiarly, no sides in the West Division registered a win, although the Windrush Club (Witney) take the lead on aggregate points after scoring a creditable 74 in losing narrowly to Premier Section champions, the Plough Wolvercote (79-74). This triumph continued their recent mini-revival following a disastrous start, and helped edge them a little closer in the table to the Six Bells, who now lie second-bottom following their reversal at Haddenham.

However, wins last week for all the remaining elite league teams are not making the Plough’s defence of their trophy any easier. Holding on to their slender advantage at the head of the section are the Chester Arms who posted a resounding 81-62 victory over the Woodman (North Leigh), closely pursued by the Hatchet, and a Bell (Grove) side who achieved the highest score of the evening in accounting for the White Hart (Eynsham) 83-54.

Thursday offers some intriguing clashes, none more so than those involving the two so-far unbeaten protagonists – the Rock of Gibraltar, pitting their collective wit against the Plough, and the Green Dragon, who face a tricky fixture away at the Seacourt Bridge.

We watch with interest!